Prudential Financial Announces Winners of Hampton University Business Case Competition
Published April 11th, 2007
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) today announced the winners of its 2007 Business Case Competition, held in collaboration with the Hampton University School of Business, located in Hampton, Va. The competition marked the first time that Prudential has sponsored a business case competition and the first time that Hampton University, one of the nation’s premier historically black universities, has collaborated on a case study with a financial services company.
“We are excited about this new aspect of our relationship with Hampton University, which offers us the opportunity to interact directly with promising students from a prestigious institution,†said Mark Grier, Vice Chairman in charge of Prudential’s International Insurance and Investments Division, and the former head of its Financial Management unit. “By helping prepare some of the best and brightest students today, we can help ensure the success of our global businesses tomorrow.â€
Executives from Prudential’s International Insurance and Financial Management units collaborated with professors from Hampton’s School of Business to develop the case study, which sought recommendations for strategies to enter the insurance industry in China. Both graduate and undergraduate students at the school, grouped in teams of three, were eligible to prepare and present recommended strategies, based on a predefined set of criteria.
“This business case competition has been a tremendous experience for all of the participants,†noted Dr. Sid Credle, Dean of Hampton University’s School of Business. “Having the opportunity to analyze a real-life issue in the global economy, and present their ideas to Prudential’s senior leaders, gives them invaluable exposure to the expectations and opportunities in business today.â€
In March, six teams presented their recommendations to a panel of four Prudential executives, who traveled to the university to meet with the competitors.
On April 10, three finalist teams visited Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, N.J., for a full day of events, including the presentation of their strategies to a panel of six senior executives at Prudential, representing the company’s Finance, International Insurance and Human Resources units.
“We were impressed by the in-depth analysis and creative recommendations presented by all three teams,†noted Rich Carbone, Prudential’s Chief Financial Officer and a member of the judging panel. “These students are clearly well-prepared to tackle the complex issues faced in today’s global business environment.â€
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